Cenatiempo is a reference point for those looking for the authentic wines of Ischia, a beautiful island just off the coast of Naples. Their low-intervention, respectful approach captures without filters the interaction between the local varieties, the sea breezes, and the volcanic soils of the Island. These are bright, mineral, vibrant wines that bring the Mediterranean charme of Ischia in the glass.

In 1945 Francesco Cenatiempo founded his small négociant winery on the right bank of the port of Ischia, already envisioning the quality expressed by the Island’s wines. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Cenatiempo family started bottling under its own name selected batches of wines made by small local growers, identifying particular vineyards for their outstanding quality and adding recognition to the local varieties Biancolella, Forastera and Per’ e Palummo (aka Piedirosso). In 1993 they started fermenting, aging and bottling selected parcels under their own name, and in 2005 they took control of the vineyard management along with their most historical growers, furthering their direct oversight over the entire production process, in order to deliver the very best possible quality in their wines while preserving the Island’s traditional viticulture and historical vineyards.

Since 2007, Cenatiempo’s wines are made from both leased vineyards managed together with historical local growers, and from Cenatiempo’s estate owned vineyards (6 hectares, divided among 17 parcels all around the Island). The combination of various exposures, volcanic soil types and elevation is the main reason for the complexity, purity and unique flavors in these wines. Like many other Mediterranean islands, vineyards on Ischia are commonly cultivated in steep terraces and tended to by hand, making winemaking in this Island an heroic endeavor.

Today, the winery is entirely owned and run by Pasquale Cenatiempo and his wife Federica.

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